LGBTQ: The Value of Drag
Philadelphia has a thriving drag community, with drag shows all over the city and an ever-growing population of performers. On any given night, a drag show is likely going on somewhere in town. Throughout history, drag has employed very rigid rules for its queens, often in relation to physique and size. However, with the growth […]
LGBTQ: Community Impacted by Issues of Body Image
Body image, or the way that one views his or her own body, is something that impacts people of all shapes, sizes, colors and sexualities. However, there are unique ways that individuals in the LGBTQ community experience and confront issues of body image. “The LGBTQ community does have special situations that other people don’t have,” […]
Gayborhood: Bearlesque Performance Group Promotes Body Positivity
Bearlesque is a body-positive, gender-inclusive burlesque performance group featuring people of all sexualities. The organization was created in 2014 by Josh Schonewolf and Connor Michalchuk as a one-off show for ‘bears,’ a slang term in the LGBTQ community for larger, hairier, more masculine gay men. The more Michalchuk and Schonewolf discussed their ideas, the more […]
LGBTQ: Softball League Unites the Community
City of Brotherly Love Softball League (CBLSL) is one of Philadelphia’s largest and oldest LGBTQ sports organizations. The league was created in 1981 by J.J. Hendley as an outlet for LGBTQ individuals who wanted both athletic experience and social networking. Each year CBLSL gives out a J.J. Hendley award, the highest honor a player in […]
LGBTQ: Toasted Walnut Brings the ‘L’ Back to LGBTQ
When Sisters Nightclub closed in 2013 after serving the lesbian community for 17 years, Philadelphia lacked a gathering space catered to LGBT women. However, with the opening of Toasted Walnut Bar & Kitchen, that need has been filled. Denise Cohen, who was a general manager at Sisters for its entire run, opened Toasted Walnut right before […]
North Philadelphia: Malcolm Kenyatta Promotes LGBT Representation in Government
Malcolm Kenyatta grew up in North Philadelphia and graduated from Temple University. He is now the member engagement coordinator for the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce and the youngest member of the Liberty City LGBT Democratic Club. He described himself as North Philly’s biggest fan. Kenyatta’s work has reached a higher level of importance and urgency […]